Israeli President Herzog picks Eisenkot to form new government

Israeli President Isaac Herzog selected Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and a former military chief, to try to form a government after the October 27 election. Eisenkot’s bloc won 48 seats and Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp won 54 in the 120-seat parliament, short of the 61 needed for a majority. Two Arab-majority political lists endorsed Eisenkot, though a formal alliance remains uncertain; he has 28 days to secure a majority, with a possible 14-day extension. Eisenkot says he is open to working with Arab-led parties under conditions, opposes a Palestinian state, and has pledged to end Hamas rule in Gaza.